This Senator’s Words Should Shock the American Conscience (Unamerican Revolution)
[Monday] morning I watched CSPAN2 to listen in on Congress as it discussed the issue of warrant-less wiretapping. Senators are intent on overhauling the outdated FISA legislation… As the debate on cloture unfolded, I was shocked at one statement in particular! Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama said in a derogatory tone: “The civil libertarians among us would rather defend the constitution than protect our nation’s security.” [Emphasis added.]
Indeed, we would, Senator.  There is no long-term security if the government can spy on anyone at will.

GAO says government failed yet another financial audit
For the 11th straight year, the federal government failed its financial audit, GAO announced Monday, in a widely anticipated finding that Comptroller General David Walker used to underscore the government’s troubled fiscal health… Walker also used the speech to criticize the spending habits of “too many Americans,” the lack of serious policy debate in the media and “the widespread myopia, tunnel vision and self-centeredness in Washington.”

Bush DoD nominee gives Iraqi government an ‘F.’ (Think Progress)
Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, President Bush’s nominee to be assistant secretary of Defense for international security affairs, Mary Beth Long, criticized the Iraqi government’s failure to meet key legislative benchmarks. “At this time, I would give the Maliki government an ‘F’,” said Long. (Sub. Req.) Long added that Maliki’s government has not acted in an “exemplary manner” towards passing legislation.

House passes Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act. (Think Progress)
Last month, Iraq war vet Jordan Fox revealed that some wounded soldiers were being asked by the Pentagon to return part of their enlistment bonuses. Today, the House passed the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act to ensure that future soldiers aren’t treated like Fox. The legislation will ensure that members of the armed services who are discharged as a result of combat-related wounds receive the full compensation to which they are entitled by the Department of Defense. Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA), one of the bill’s primary sponsors, spoke on the floor [Tuesday] morning.
Click through to watch the video.

House to vote on $70 billion for wars
WASHINGTON – The Democratic-controlled House is expected to give President Bush an end-of-session victory in his yearlong battle with anti-war lawmakers over Iraq by approving $70 billion for U.S. military operations there and in Afghanistan.

House to vote on preventing expanded tax
WASHINGTON – After agonizing for weeks, the House planned to vote Wednesday on legislation that would protect more than 20 million people from seeing their tax bill balloon this year as a result of the dreaded alternative minimum tax.

Bush to sign bill to boost auto mileage
WASHINGTON – President Bush, who has said he doesn’t believe the government should set arbitrary automobile mileage standards, is signing into law a requirement that motor vehicles meet an average 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

Waxman to Mukasey: Ahem (by Paul Kiel at TPM Muckraker)
The White House has arbitrarily blocked former Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald from turning over records of his interviews during the Valerie Plame leak investigation of White House officials, including the President, [House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry] Waxman wrote [two weeks ago]. Apparently Waxman got no response. Waxman adds helpfully in his letter [Tuesday] … that since Scooter Libby has dropped his appeal, “there remains no further pending litigation associated with the Fitzgerald investigation.” He concludes: “I urge you to cooperate with Congress’ investigation into these unanswered questions.”

Coburn Pushes for Investigation of Young’s Secret Earmark Edit (by Paul Kiel at TPM Muckraker)
We may finally get some answers about how Rep. Don Young (R-AK) managed to change the text of a bill after it was passed by Congress in order to benefit a major campaign contributor. In a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) today, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) called for the creation of a select committee comprised of both representatives and senators to investigate the miraculous change to the 2005 transportation bill.

Gordon Smith defends Lott’s segregationist comments. (Think Progress)
In a speech on the Senate floor [Tuesday], Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) paid tribute to Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS), who recently announced his resignation… “I watched over international news as his words were misconstrued, words which we had heard him utter many times in his big warm-heartedness trying to make one of our colleagues, Strom Thurmond, feel good at 100 years old. We knew what he meant. But the wolfpack of the press circled around him, sensed blood in the water, and the exigencies of politics caused a great injustice.”
Click through to watch the video.

Not Just Gordon Smith (by David Kurtz at Talking Points Memo)
Here’s Orrin Hatch (R-UT) [Tuesday] on the Senate floor, delivering his own impassioned defense of Trent Lott’s Strom Thurmond debacle.

Edwards Takes Back Lead in Iowa (Political Wire)
A new InsiderAdvantage poll in Iowa shows John Edwards leading among likely caucus-goers with 30% support, followed by Sen. Hillary Clinton at 26% and Sen. Barack Obama at 24%.
This is the first poll to show Edwards ahead of his rivals since summer… In the Republican race, Mike Huckabee leads with 28%, followed by Mitt Romney at 25%, Fred Thompson at 10%, Sen. John McCain at 9%, Rep. Ron Paul at 6%, and Rudy Giuliani also at 6%.

Elder Bush nixes Clinton trip idea (CNN Political Ticker)
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former President George H.W. Bush has shot down his successor Bill Clinton’s idea of a diplomatic mission under a Hillary Clinton presidency that would send him and other notables abroad to assure other nations that “America is open for business and cooperation again.” The move came one day after Bill Clinton made the suggestion on the campaign trail in South Carolina, in response to a question from a supporter about his wife’s “number-one priority” upon reaching the White House.

Romney Attended Planned Parenthood Fundraiser (Political Wire)
ABC News obtained a photograph of Mitt Romney attending “a fundraising reception for Planned Parenthood in 1994 in conjunction with a $150 donation his wife made to the organization — notwithstanding Romney’s contention that he had ‘no recollection’ of the circumstances under which his wife made gave money to the abortion-rights group.”

Giuliani’s once-leading campaign is slipping in key early states
These are tough times for Rudy Giuliani. He’s still the leading GOP presidential candidate in national polls, but only by two percentage points over Mike Huckabee. And in early-voting states, Giuliani’s sinking fast.

Huckabee, Giuliani tied in 2008 Republican race
DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) – Mike Huckabee has surged into a virtual tie with front-runner Rudy Giuliani in the national 2008 Republican presidential race two weeks before the first contest, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

McCain: “Economics is Something That I’ve Really Never Understood” (by Mark Thoma at Economist’s View)
John McCain says that when it comes to economics he will have to rely upon others because, though he’s tried, he doesn’t really get it himself.
All we need is ANOTHER president who doesn’t understand economics.

Report: Magnet and PDA Sufficient to Change Votes on Voting Machine (By Kim Zetter, Wired)
A new study … on the security of voting machines was released in Ohio on Friday. The report, one of the most comprehensive and informative that I’ve seen yet, contains some pretty astounding information about the security of voting machines that hasn’t been revealed before. Unfortunately, the report isn’t receiving the kind of attention it deserves.